Converted snake venom into pills: UP opposes Elvish Yadav's plea in Supreme Court

The Uttar Pradesh government on Monday urged the Supreme Court to dismiss YouTuber Elvish Yadav’s plea seeking to quash the criminal case filed against him in the alleged snake venom rave party case, calling it a matter involving serious offences under wildlife and narcotics laws.

In a detailed affidavit filed before the top court, the state government asserted that the investigation uncovered “a criminal conspiracy in which snake venom was extracted, converted into pills, and consumed as an intoxicant at illegal parties” allegedly organised in Noida.

According to the affidavit, the probe — conducted under the supervision of authorised forest and police officials — led to the seizure of nine protected snakes, including five cobras, a python and two two-headed snakes, along with 20 mg of venom.

Yadav was arrested on March 17, 2024, in connection with the case, facing charges under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, several Indian Penal Code sections, and the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act. He was released on bail after 14 days.

Investigators later submitted a chargesheet exceeding 1,200 pages, detailing suspected exotic snake smuggling, the use of venom at parties, and the involvement of foreign nationals.

The state said these seizures were made during a raid carried out in the presence of forest officers.

The government maintained that the evidence collected so far substantiates Yadav’s involvement.

“The case is supported by confessional statements of co-accused, forensic analysis of seized substances, intercepted communications, and electronic surveillance reports,” the affidavit stated.

It further claimed that a Cyber Cell report confirmed the YouTuber’s contact with co-accused through a virtual number — a move the state described as “deliberate concealment and direct involvement in the offences.”

Rejecting Yadav’s contention that the case was politically motivated or a conspiracy, the UP government argued that the proceedings were based on a “fair and earnest inquiry” backed by credible material.

The UP government also emphasised that under the law, “the absence of physical presence at the scene of crime does not absolve liability where a criminal conspiracy stands established.”

Asserting that invocation of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act was legally valid, the state said there was ample material to proceed to trial.

“The ongoing proceedings do not warrant judicial interference at this stage,” the affidavit concluded.

Earlier, the Supreme Court had granted interim relief to Elvish Yadav by staying proceedings initiated by a trial court in connection with the case.

The court had issued notice to the Uttar Pradesh government on Yadav’s plea, which challenges the FIR, chargesheet, and summoning order issued by the lower court.

Yadav, through Advocates Shahrukh Ali and Raman Yadav, has argued that the offences under the Wildlife Protection Act were taken cognisance of without a complaint from a competent officer, contending that the police lacked authority to investigate or file a chargesheet in such matters.

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